'Pretty Little Liars'' Shay Mitchell: 'There will be new love affairs' for Emily

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In the Jan. 10 episode of “Pretty Little Liars,” Emily (Shay Mitchell) shared an extremely awkward dinner with her parents and girlfriend Maya (Bianca Lawson). Though she tried, in the end, Emily’s mom Pam (Nia Peeples) told her she disgusted by their relationship.

Shay Mitchell sat down with Zap2it at the winter TV critics press tour where she spilled on what’s ahead for Emily after hearing her mother say that. “It’s going to be very tough. It’s going to be one of the dilemmas Emily is dealing with right now,” she says. “She is trying to be true to herself and see where this thing goes with Maya, but at the same time it’s kind of difficult when you’re still at home.”

So what is ahead for Emily and Maya? Brace yourselves “PLL” fans because Mitchell hints very tough times are ahead for the couple. “There’s a big twist. There’s a big turn,” she reveals. “Their relationship is very special. This is Emily’s first big relationship. She’s still very young, as are all the girls. and they’re still figuring themselves out. There will be other love affairs.”

So who could this other love affair be? We asked Mitchell about upcoming guest starLindsey Shaw and whether or not her character could possibly be Emily’s new love interest. Shaw plays Paige, a member of the swim team who feels threatened when Emily rejoins the team.

“You definitely get to see Emily’s competitive side and you haven’t see that in awhile. She gets back in the water and Paige brings out a really competitive streak in Emily,” she tells us. “It’s kind of an added stress if she can even handle anymore. It’s a very interesting dynamic they have.” Mitchell would only say Paige is “kind of separate” from Emily’s coming out storyline.

When asked if Emily using the word “gay” when coming out to her father meant that she is strictly gay and not bisexual, this is what executive producer I. Marlene King had to say at the show’s panel: “It just seemed, the way that Emily, the character, would naturally probably express herself. It wasn’t something that we spend an enormous amount of time on, actually. It just felt in the writing just natural for her to use the word “gay.”

Fans of Toby (Keegan Allen) and Emily will be happy to know there is more coming up between the two characters. “Their relationship continues. I mean he’s such an amazing guy,” Mitchell says, “He just really helped Emily, along with Maya. He just made her feel comfortable to be who she was. He is a very important part and he’ll be sticking around.”

Who do you want to see Emily with, Zappers? Maya, Paige, Toby or maybe someone new? Sound off in the comments section.